Book One In The Borrowed World Series - The Borrowed World

The women in this book are either complaining, whining witches or simpletons (although good natured willing simpletons.) The Hispanics are mustachioed, tattooed. gang bangers. Welfare recipients are fat, dirty, toothless and lazy. Then you have the silly hippy dippy flower children who don't like guns. God help them. The only guy the main character can stomach is his acolyte Gary. I disliked the main character so much by the end of the book that I didn't care if he made it home or not.

If you are a "prepper" then you will likely love this story. For me it was alarming that folk resort to violence so quickly in the case of a major catastrophe. The gun culture in America is scary and this novel reinforces my view that too many people have too many guns in this country and most of them are not qualified to have them. The book ultimately felt like a "boys adventure story" - I was looking for something a little more grown up.

This book had a nice twist on the genre - if you were on a business trip and the SHTF, and you had to use that Get Home Bag for real, how would you go about it? Great concept. Starts well, and realistic. (I would not go to a FEMA evacuation camp either). But poor execution.
Like the title of my review said, this should be "The Bumpkin Bloodbath". By the last third of the book, the characters are killing essentially anything that moved, and the headcount, all lowlife bumpkins, increases significantly.
This quote says it all: "I don't feel like I've turned into anything. I just want to get home and I will rise to whatever level of violence is required to get me there, I don't think that we've killed anyone other than people who left us no choice. If that's the kind of people that lay between us and home, I will pave the road with their bodies". Well you wouldn't have to pave the road with their bodies if you stayed off the @#$% road!
I get it. I would not hesitate to defend myself and my family. Maybe I just need to "man up" like the main character's grandfather said.
But as the bumpkin death toll mounts, its like they are shooting cardboard targets. They are all the same two dimensional enemies. And it soon doesn't mean much. And because of this the three main characters all start sounding and acting the same.
And the epilogue was unnecessary. Without spoilers, it underscored my comments above.

Franklin Horton's 'The Borrowed World' is a tough book to put a rating on. If I give it one or two stars I feel like I'm giving a bad rating to a well-written book. But if I give it three or four I feel like I'm buying in with the author's horrible misogyny and hatred of the poor.

It is well written. A string of terrorist attacks has wrecked the US; the power grid has been destroyed, along with most of the oil reserves and refinery facilities. Jim, the protagonist, is at a company conference. He's also a prepper who has been preparing for this moment nearly all of his life.

The Borrowed World alternates POVs, with one story line following Jim and his co-workers as they prepare for and begin the long hike home. The other is Jim's wife and children back home as they attempt deploy the many preparations Jim has set-up at their house in the country.

The social contract dissolves in a matter of hours, with a shoot-out at a gas station after the government stops the sale of gasoline. Both Jim and his family are beset by people that didn't have Jim's foresight (like nearly every prepper protagonist I've ever read, Jim has not-too-subtle air of superiority, since he is ready for this moment, unlike the unwashed masses) and are desperate for food, shelter, or transportation.

Horton's narrative flows easily and quickly; The Borrowed World is an engaging page-turner. And Horton had the guts to make Jim unlikeable- he's gruff, grating, and rude. And he's no hero- he's out to get back to his family, other people's problems be damned.

Now, I don't know a thing about Franklin Horton. The Borrowed World is the first work of his I've read. I haven't seen his website or his Facebook page and I wouldn't know him if I ran smack into him at the mall. But I will say this - the man loves him some stereotypes.

The only worthwhile characters presented in The Borrowed World are white upper-middle class men. Women in this world have no value, and exist only to natter and make bad decisions, unless a white upper- middle class man tells them what to do. Liberals are worthless do-gooders, destined to horrible death or (even worse) the hell-on-earth called FEMA camps, because they chose not to take the advice of white upper-middle class men who are preppers. Hispanics are gang-bangers who drink all day. And the poor? Holy cow, I had no idea the poor were such threats. The poor are all stupid and demanding hillbillies or ex-convicts with no imagination or self-fortitude. They are fat, tatted up and unclean, and in a national crisis they will show up at the homes of white upper-middle class white men and demand food. Just because. And they get ornery if you refuse them, too. Trailer park denizens are the worst. Nobody in a trailer park works, they are all lazy welfare cheats looking for a hand-out from white upper-middle class white men. And you have to watch out because if you refuse them they'll gang up and attack. I lived a couple of blocks from a trailer park for several years back in the nineties- I had no idea the people there were like that!

So, what do you do with a book like that? Do you reward the writing, in the hopes that the author is aware that there are women out there who can brush their teeth without detailed instructions? That he has met a poor person or two in his life , maybe even was one at some point (as most of us have been) and knows that they aren't all desperate losers? Or do you say 'one star- I'm not going to reward that kind of thinking'.

Writing a book is hard. Damned hard. Writing a book that people read and are moved enough by that reading to take the time to review it? Almost impossibly hard- I haven't been able to do it. Because Mr. Horton did, I'm going to give it three stars and recommend people read The Borrowed World.

But doing so kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

This one is kind of hard to pin down. Been reading a bit of this genre lately, and overall I liked the concept and the basic plot-line of this story. There are however some shortfalls in the story itself. In some areas the writing is well developed and flows very smoothly, while in other areas it is detailed to the point of tedium. This is obviously written by someone who has put a lot of thought into the idea, which is driven home by telling some of the story in the first person. The writing is good enough that the reliance on repetitively using the brand-names of specialty products and gear is a bit overkill and unnecessary. It indicates someone who wants to show off what he knows rather than tell a story, and detracts from the overall feel.

The primary protagonist is kind of a white-collar guy with a "survivalist" (or "prepper") mindset, which is a welcome change from the "former super-soldier" so common in these types of stories. Unfortunately this fails when each time he is faced with violent adversity he immediately changes into a cold-blooded stoic with no remorse. While I understand need for the mindset, it is not always so easy for a well-adjusted person (as this guy and his compatriots appear to be) not tested in that arena to switch on and off without some soul-searching. An argument can be made that his objective of getting home supersedes any psychological aspects of committing homicide (justified or otherwise), yet the objective is consistently compromised by the protagonist(s) being a completely morally upright hero and saving the underdogs. It makes understanding the character development confusing. It is hard to create a "dark hero", I guess.

The antagonists unfortunately are very stereotypical (portrayed as stupid hillbilly jerks or gang-bangers) with limited intelligence and no imagination who spend more time talking than doing. Just once I would like to see a "bad" guy portrayed as intelligent and well-adjusted (can still be hillbilly or gang-related) but simply with conflicting objectives. And of course, apparently, everyone living in trailer parks are seedy bottom-feeders. I suppose when stories involve killing individuals, it is easier if you blatantly demonize them to justify the effort. Or change the genre to a pulp-horror "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"-style horror story.

The protagonists never face real issues as they are always well prepared and equipped to face whatever challenge they are confronted with. Come on! Even Superman had kryptonite! The only catastrophes (deaths) were faced by the "Red Shirts" so obviously dropped into the story for that purpose.

I doubt I will follow up with the sequel.

FTC: I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Borrowed World is an audiobook that called to the post-apocalypse junkie in me. The end-of-the-world scenario in this book is startlingly realistic and one that could happen at any moment and there would be nothing we could do to stop it, except try to survive. It was chilling and adventurous, and ultimately, I enjoyed it.

The book starts as ISIS terror cells destroy oil refineries across the globe, damage major bridges, etc. and start a s*** storm the likes of which we have never dealt with before. In the course of 24 hours, America is no longer the country we once knew it to be. The Borrowed World follows doomsday prepper Jim Powell as he and his small group of colleges are hundreds of miles away from home, without gas or transportation, trying to survive long enough to get home to their families.

While we are following Jim’s group on a treacherous trek home, we also see what Jim’s wife and children have to deal with at home alone. It’s a different kind of danger, but it’s no less scary for his family. I enjoyed having a peek at the different situations they each have to survive. Sort of reminds me of the beginning on The Walking Dead season one… you know, if the TWD had no zombies.

I had mixed feelings for The Borrowed World. On the one hand, I loved the narrator. Seriously, I want to curl up in his voice and live there for a while. What? Don’t look at me like that, his voice is deep and velvety and yum. I will not apologize for being a weirdo! He has the perfect voice for story-telling. It’s so soothing and warm and at the same time able to give me chills when paired with such a serious thriller. It was a weird but ultimately successful combination of comforting and scary.

I enjoyed the story as well. The Borrowed World was a crazily realistic science fiction and it was clearly well researched. It was intense and serious, but it had moments where Horton strategically lightened the mood a bit with humor and dry wit. I don’t know about you, but I really do enjoy my thriller with a side of comedy. Sometimes, too much intensity can overpower, so I loved that there were moments where Horton took the edge off.

The one thing that sort of killed the story for me (and ultimately made this a 3 star review and not higher) was the ending. I’m not a huge fan of open endings to begin with, but this one felt even less successful. It felt like the author was in a rush to publish and forgot to write an ending. It was just so… frustrating. I kept waiting for the rest of the book, but it never came. *sigh* It makes me feel better that there is a second book after all, but not by much. I do see myself picking up book two just to finally figure out how it’s all going to end, but I’m also apprehensive that book two will end like book one. It’s off-putting, to say the least!

I do recommend this book to other science fiction fans, it was such an adventure! But if you aren’t a fan of open endings I’d skip out on The Borrowed World.

I really enjoyed this book. Loosely reminded me of The Walking Dead without zombies; survivalist meets a plausible real-world scenario. While I felt the speculative pace at which things fell apart and people turned on one another happened a bit too quickly, it made sense for the sake of story progression. Brings up some good ethical questions of doing what it takes to stay alive in a dystopian setting. Interesting and practical things to consider of preparedness, and the gray line between it and paranoia—something the protagonist was accused of frequently. That is, until his paranoia became a form of physical salvation. I liked how the story followed two happenings; the protagonist trying to make his way home, and his family keeping it together until he could get there. I ended up enjoying this more than I had anticipated; so much so that it was easy to overlook the occasional repetitive word choices in a single sentence. I am looking forward to checking out the second book in this series.

Just when I thought I had the very pinnacle of PAY (Post-Apocalyptic Yarn) novels pegged down, with stories from P.A. Glaspy, A. A. American, David Nees, Nicholas Sansbury Smith, Henry Gene Foster, William Allen, Bobby Akart and Harley Tate ; I find Franklin Horton's "The Borrowed World", a wonderful PAY with supremely credible and well-narrated action, dialogue and situations, exposed in a clear and concise method that includes some humor and a lot of detail to make it so realistic!
My only complaint is about the dumb agnosticism of the main character - in first person narration - but Mr. Horton does not overdo it. Thank God! LOL
Oops! I just noticed there are sequels;! I bought it thinking it was a one-time story, so now I'm doubly pleased!
(Manny Gutierrez - author of "This Time" [LifeRich Publishing, 2018])

Jim Powell is long way from home, on a business trip with some co-workers, when the U.S. is attacked and life as we know it changes in the blink of a eye. But all Jim wants is to get home to his wife and kids. With thousands of other trapped travelers and very little law enforcement, things get really interesting really fast, but has Jim planned well enough?

I found this book especially interesting as I was about half way though it when hurricane Matthew became a real threat to Florida. I could see things happening on the news and from what family and friends who live there where reporting, and how it paralleled this book. We have had our own issues here where I live in Kentucky with major week long power outages after ice and wind storms, but you never think of what would happen if the whole country went down at once and for a very prolonged period of time. It makes you think, for a fiction book this one hits close to home.

This book is really good, it is action packed and the suspense will have you falling off of your seat. The characters are ordinary people just trying to get by. I had the audiobook version narrated by Kevin Pierce who does an awesome job giving each character its own personality in voice and attitude. He really shaped this story and kept Jim Powell's character honest and real to what he says he is, a man who just wants to get home to his family.

I was out of something to read and picked this book at random. Boy, am I glad I did. Excellent book. Almost immediately, I started the second in the series, reading the author's material in the front, as I always do. I was shocked to learn that Horton had almost given up on writing. Mr. Horton, please keep writing. I'm a very experienced reader I've been eating books for breakfast, lunch and dinner since I discovered a library in the first grade more than 50 years ago. Good writing is nothing less than magic. This reader thoroughly enjoyed The Borrowed World. I found it interesting and the character development excellent, the storyline believable. I was totally impressed with the writing skill. I love reading books that allow me to enter the world of created by the author. Books that allow me to forget that I'm actually sitting in my own den. Over the years, I've learned that the reader has that experience when the writer has labored over the words and taken the work out. Thank you for doing the work so that I could simply relax in an excellent story. KEEP WRITING, please. Now, I have to get back to reading the second in the series.

I really enjoyed this book right from the start. It is a real page turner and one you will not want to put down.I also picked up some good ideas as well. It is very possible that our downfall as a nation could very well play out as described in this book. The characters are well developed and believable. Not every one makes it out the other side miraculously unscathed .

The book tells a complete story that easily stands alone, but will leave you wanting more and READY to read the next book. IE, it is not a cliffhanger. There are some grammatical errors and misplaced or missing words but overall it is GREAT !

If I had a complaint it would be that sometimes the word "clip" is used where it should be "magazine" . I have purchased all 5 of the available books in the series and read the next two books and love them as well.

Book two will answer your questions about what happened to the women who went to the FEMA Camp, or the "relocation center" as they called it

Picked this book up because it wasn't another EMP based prepper novel. It started out okay, with the attack and then lists of things to do at the first signs of trouble, but went downhill from there, Too much emphasis on us good, noble, armed to the teeth, white farmers with hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition-versus-every stereotype you can imagine, plus a few 'normal' desperate people. The main character is a trigger happy thief that seems more like someone you should lock your doors and get a gun to protect your family from, rather than a hero of any kind. God help us if the first thing we do in an emergency is think about shooting our neighbors. The author can write well, hope in the future he gets more creative.

The story itself is very engaging and the writing is good; I give this book 2 stars based on the horrible lack of editing and the resulting plethora of errors.It takes so much away from the story and the enjoyment of an otherwise good book when it is fraught with mistakes the author surely didn't make. Also, although I knew going in that this was book 1 in a series,it really doesn't read that way. Not the same as, say, a 'Hunger Games' or 'Harry Potter' book where one significant event ends and the next book picks up from there. Not so with this book. It doesn't tie things up and then take you on a new adventure in book 2. Book 2 starts off at the exact moment book 1 ends. They could very easily have been combined into one book - but then they can't charge as much, can they? I haven't made it to book 3 yet; not sure if I even will.

I will save you the time reading this.
Muslims are scary + Preppers Handbook + I'm right, you're wrong

Seriously, the entire setup of the collapse is by a string of characters that have 'Muslim' as a trait. Odd since one of the other characters that is introduced is a ministers wife who thrives on in-fighting and backstabbing. It's almost like a persons flavor of faith doesn't actually mean they embrace the ideals or teachings beyond using the label to make themselves feel better than others.

This story about a "moderately prepared" man stranded from his family is a typical overly done prepping story. Guy gets stranded from family and must make his way home while his family uses the "moderate preparations" he made at home to survive. It's suppose to be a sort of idea for people to think about in case an event such as this would actually happen, yet it is highly doubtful many people have cold springs in their yard, a large farm property, a reinforced cave hideout, and thousands pond thousands of rounds of ammo and food stocks. Overall it seems like the author is simply looking down on those not prepared and it comes across in how his characters appear and treat others. I'm all for being prepared and such and enjoy these types of novels but this did nothing to stand out from the crowd and gain my attention.

I have read a lot of apocalyptic fiction but this was more scary than the others. Zombies, asteroids, alien invasion and plagues were easier to dismiss as a fiction. The beginning of this chilled me to the bone. Its certainly a very plausible plan being carried out now on our soil.
I liked the book very much, the characters we followed were likable, I cared that they got home safely without much harm and I look forward to the next and hope its already written. I do feel terrible that I am not at all prepared for such an event, I don't have a GBH or any extra stored things in my cellar. This book made me think "why not be somewhat prepared?"
Thank you to the author for making me consider starting to get ready.

I appreciate books that have the main character being "switched on" for the disaster that happens. I also appreciate that the author includes other characters that are like ostriches (keep their head in the sand & can't see what danger they are in) and plays off on one another until the group decides to break apart. In a post disaster state, nobody wins & only the quick & the dead are left on the battlefield of life. I've purchased the rest of this line of books & #2 is as good as #1 so far.

In a genre full of authors phoning it in to make some kindle unlimited money it's clear that Franklin Horton not only talks the talk, but walks the walk as well. An apt metaphor for this first book, as the main characters take a long walk in their struggle to get home. Similar to the first book in my other favorite book series, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, The Borrowed World is constrained by the tropes of its genre and therefore appears to lean heavily on those who have come before. Please don't let the feeling of "I've read this before" deter you. The series is full of unique, multi-dimensional characters, and only picks up steam as it goes. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.

I love Franklin Horton's writing! The books have great story lines, he does a wonderful job developing the characters to the point you want to be friends with some of them. My only complaint is having to wait so long in between LOL! Seriously - prefer to wait and have quality reading! I seriously recommend this series and the Locker 9 series to anyone who likes this genre! I always have a hard time putting down his books so I can get some sleep before work! They are that good!

I met the author in Saluda NC 2017.....I purchased this book from him and he even autographed it for me. I just got around to reading it last week. I must say it really surprised me. I truly loved his writing style and character development. The scenario in the book is truly frightening and seems like it would be very easy for this to happen. Very terrifying read. It was such an adsorbing read I came on the store and got the next book in the series and I just finished it this evening.

I thought with all the good reviews, this had to be good. Unfortunately, as others have noted, the violence is over the top and glorifies in the way it's treated. Thee protagonist does not regret killing, nor does his wife at home. I also thought the other characters (especially the villians) were so stereotypical to be laughable.

Can this ever happen?
Well, people said we would never go to the moon in my lifetime, yet it happened.
Here is a well written exposé about what it would be like, what it will be like, someday sooner than we all expect.
Riveting suspense, realistic drama and emotion take you through what has happened in other countries on a smaller scale. This could almost serve as a manual, but as entertainment it is off the chart.
It should be required reading in all high schools!

One of the better TEOTWAWKI books. Great plot line, believable characters who are knowledgeable but there is a story here- not just a prepper's guideline list (although there is a list written by the protagonist for his wife and children to follow).

The were a couple typos but nothing glaring- better than some traditionally published novels. The one thing that got me, that cost this book a fifth star was at the beginning of a the novel one of the characters was nearly killed by someone wielding a lug wrench, and towards the end of the novel, the situation is recounted by the protagonist as someone wielding a crowbar. It bothered me because the rest of the book was so good.

I will be looking for the next book (I wouldn't call this a serial, but it did end on a cliffhanger). I read this novel via Kindle Unlimited.

The Good
Good action! Interesting situations that would likely occur (the convenience store, the hotel, etc.). The altercations with the family while hiking home was riveting.

The Bad
The constant brand name dropping was annoying and unnecessary. Read a non-fiction book if you want a list of items to throw into a BOB. The everyday Joe (Jim) that never acted like an everyday Joe didn't make sense. He acted more like a soldier with lots of hours in the field. The references to gangbanger Mexicans and toothless hillbillies was a little much to stomach at times. (Sometimes you don't want the author's personal world view to come through so clearly.)

I have read many SHTF books from A.American to Rawling probably around eight or ten in total, this one is one of the best. The writing is good doesn't come across amateur like many new authors, the pace is fast honestly couldn't stop reading it finished it in a few days and jumped straight into the second book. The story is realistic and gritty without being superhuman. The Prepper information you can learn from this book is very concise and covers the basics well and are incorporated into the story perfectly. This is a fast paced gritty story worthy of any Prepper Fan and a different than many "Get Home books".....I recommend it :)

Having read quite a bit of apocalyptic books, this one came as a rather refreshing first published work by author Franklin Horton. Since apocalyptic drama, especially disaster (natural or man-made) drama, doesn't often lead to much variety when it comes to plots or characters. Mr. Horton seems to find a sweet spot with both that allows the reader to gradually get to know the characters through their travels and struggles.

The book is really two story lines, or maybe three, if you count the story from the main character's past; his reminiscing thoughts from his grandfather's life. The story starts with a very real scenario describing a terrorist setting the stage for an event on American soil. Mr. Horton posits some events that I've often thought of myself when looking at the vulnerabilities of our nation, and how we tend to cavalierly give away information to our enemies. He does an excellent job of describing how the events might take place; believable and scary.

As the terrorists unleash their attack on America, a group of state governmental coworkers have traveled from one side of their state to the capital on the other side of the state to attend meetings. Not an unheard of situation by any means. The co-workers, a very diverse group in age, background, sexes, and philosophies, find themselves thrown together when the attacks cause the national infrastructure to begin failing. With five hundred miles to get home, they quickly realize that unless they begin moving immediately, their ability to get there may be compromised.

The main character of the book, a man by the name of Jim, is a man who's grown up to be a man who has seen the writing on the wall, as far as our potential for harm is concerned, and has taken steps to make his family safe. He is an organizer. A thinker and planner. He loves the outdoors, and he loves his family, so takes steps to combine the two. He is a pragmatist, and a realist who doesn't suffer fools gladly. Some, both in his group, and outside, think him rude and selfish, but his family and friends understand his loyalty, which is a big strength, is sometimes hidden by his lack of compassion for those who don't view life from his lens.

As they travel home, it becomes apparent that the world is becoming a not so friendly place much quicker than anyone thought. While I've read a few reviews that felt like the author took the liberty of creating people who were stereotypical in some areas, I have to honestly disagree with them. Not that he took the liberty, but because stereotypes are there because they represent real people in real situations. In the area of the country the book is written in, the people, and the scenarios are only too real. Through Jim, we see the condition of America, not through an idealistic lens, but through a perspective of a man who was deeply affected by his grandfather's experiences as a young man in the coal mines, and later by Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. These are the things that color his worldview, and while we see glimpses of his humanity, like his conversation with the preacher, and his care of the elderly couple, we also know that what he's seeing in his focused view are the groups that for him mean danger.

The second story line is with his wife, kids and parents. We find that Jim is dedicated and driven to return home to them, and Mr. Horton does a great job of letting us see who they are, and why they are valued. Through their story, we find out where Jim comes from, who he is and what he does. We see his kids, and know that he has a close relationship with them. We find that he's not just done preparations at home for himself, but he's taken steps to make sure they are all taught and trained. And we find out these things, not because the author tells us that, but because the story unveils it as it goes along.

In the end, Jim and the two people who remain with him make it part way home. They are bruised, battered, injured, and changed. Even Jim, who was a harder man than most when he began, has spent time thinking about the lessons his grandfather tried to instill. Before the end of the world, Jim had no context in which to understand and know what he had to be. Now he does. The question remains, can he be that person in the way his family needs him to be?

At the end of the book, after we've traveled, and struggled with Jim and his family, Mr. Horton leaves us with a parting "gift"; our adrenalin, back from the excitement and danger of the journey, gets kicked up a notch and leaves us wanting more. But more has to come in book 2, which will definitely take too long to get here!

I loved this book. Jim's wife was someone that I can relate to, and sympathize with. Her struggles made my heart hurt, and my pride swell as she overcame so much. It's a first book, and a great book. Get it. Read it. Get ready for book 2!

What is a really offensive four letter word starting with F? After Hurricane Katrina, I think the mantle of that went to FEMA... While not technically a word, FEMA, after Katrina seems to have been ingrained into the world psyche as the figurehead of government distrust and ineptitude. The Borrowed World is a post disaster book set in a very plausible world. Unlike a lot of such books, it doesn't rely on a world war, a high tech EMP, nuclear disaster, zombie apocalypse, a plague, or any of the other complicated scenario. I worked for a short time for an electrical generation body, and I still recall on old timer there telling me that the region power grid could be taken out by a well placed crowbar thrown into a vulnerable spot. This book takes a realistic premise of an orchestrated group of terrorists gaining access to the US some through its very porous Mexican border (why would you bother with airports with their ridiculous security when you have a much easier way in needing no complex papers and subterfuge?) and launching conventional low tech weapon attacks against oil refineries, power etc. Things quickly go bad.

The book, after the attack, centers on the journey home of a small group, from the perspective of Jim Powell, a semi-"prepper" who is caught in this situation away from home on a work related trip. After seeing how bad things went in society, they decide to use the Appalachian trail to get home as opposed to use roads, so as to avoid getting stuck in a FEMA camp, and avoid the majority of the population.

The story is a bit short, and doesn't cover the trip home, just part of the journey, although it is does form a complete arc.

Kevin Pierce does a fine job narrating. I enjoy his narration, and have quite a few of his performances in my library. Oddly a lot of them are post apocalyptic tales.

If I could give this book 4 1/2 I would! I loved this book! As a fan of this genre, most books I read a VERY religious. Not that I have an issue with religion, but it was great to read something that wasn't preaching the entire time. It also read a little truer to life I think. Again, I'd be willing to bet that in a SHTF situation, people aren't going to be running around saying "darn-it!" They'll find something a little more forceful in the vocab!

With that out of the way, the story was really good. Nothing mind blowing, but I did like the way these characters played out. You got to know each of them enough to start making up opinions of them. There is clearly another book planned to learn about them more in-depth. I look forward to hearing more about the world these people are in!

I first started reading this book driving down Interstate 5 from northern California to Los Angeles to help kill the tedium of the drive, and was so caught up in the story and almost hypnotic audio that I wanted to continue driving on to San Diego, past my destination, so I could finish the suspenseful plotline. I then immediately bought the audio-sequel and read it on the way back north. Am currently working on the third audiobook in the series as I drive around, wondering how I would handle the aftermath of a national apocalyptic level catastrophe such as occurs in this book (sad to say, not well).

The author is a very talented storyteller, and his reader has a clear, easy to listen to voice and acting skills that enhance the tale and bring it to life. This is a no-nonsense, reflective and informative story about a down-to-earth, somewhat cynical un-PC family man, a state government bureaucracy worker but also a prepper, trying to get home after he is stranded 170 or so miles from home accompanied by five co-workers, only one of whom also have a get-home bag with them.

The intriguing story moves along briskly, as does the collapse of society, and the characters' personalities develop slowly but surely as the plot evolves. There is useful preparedness information without devolving into a recitation of lists.

I disagree with some reviewers who describe the main character as an elitist upper middle class misogynist gun nut who hates poor people. Keep reading, and you will learn clearly, if not here then in the second and third books if you persevere, that this characterization is inaccurate. Jim comes across to me as a middle-aged, crusty realistic observer of life and facts, respectful of those who do not harm others, willing to help if he can, regardless of people's station in life, if they behave with human dignity rather than try and forcibly steal with violence what is not theirs to take. Indeed, we learn one of the main female characters is actually a trailer park resident. Jim is not poor, and not rich, rather, he is a man who previously chose to focus his middle class income and resources on preparing himself and his family for a potential apocalypse so they could survive. Part of that preparation involves securing and understanding firearms, but I do not think that makes him a "gun nut".

The second and third books get more nuanced and even more interesting as you read along, rather than going on the opposite direction as some SHTF books do. I am a fan of this genre, having read at least 50 or 60 of them in the last few years, and although the author is not quite as powerful in his style as Joe Nobody or Glenn Tate, I look forward to more from him.

The author created a well researched story about the collapse of society.The different locations in my home state made the book more personal and fun to read.The authors story of one families efforts to reunite and their preparations for surviving the after affects of a major terrorist attack are informative and engaging.The inclusion of humor was appreciated.The book does end with a bit of a cliffhanger,but that is to be expected in a series.I'm thrilled to have won an autographed copy of this book in an online contest and look forward to reading more in the series.

I enjoy post-apocalypse survival novels, but "The Borrowed World" is nothing more than a prepper guide with a thinly veiled end-of-the-world plot-line. The real synopsis should read: "A paranoid, anti-government, misogynist, gun-nut, prepper gets stranded hundreds of miles from home when "event" happens. He and like-minded companions strike out on foot for prepper-home-fortress and, because they are so well-prepared, they easily overtake "degenerates" until they get halfway home and the book unexpectedly ends. Think of it as "The Road", if it occurred 3 hours after the 'event', and the lead character idolized John Rambo.

In the case of this book, the 'event' is a coordinated terrorist attack and the 'degenerates' are plastic, stereotype, unprepared hillbillies and gangster Hispanics. The 'event' and 'degenerates' play absolutely no part in the plot, and could easily be replaced with a virus and zombies, or any combo of your choosing. I'd recommend mentally substituting something else because that way you'll find the stereotypes to be less offensive.

Essentially, ISIS attacks the USA's infrastructure overnight leaving most of the USA without power. People wake up and slowly find out about the attack. Despite not knowing the severity, by lunchtime everyone is rioting and the lead character has calmly killed his first person. And so it goes. The author wants us to see an expert prepper who is ready for anything, but what we see instead is a gun nut who is clearly excited that this day has come because he can now kill people without recourse.

For me, it was one of the most unlikable protagonists I've ever encountered. I was rooting against him by Chapter 10, but I also knew that nothing bad would happen because it was the author's goal to show that a highly prepared person will be invincible, and can live off the grid without outside assistance if he has one hundred thousand rounds of ammunition. If you're of the same mind then you may enjoy the book and some of the useful prepper ideas that are presented. But be warned, this is just Part 1 of 3 and the book might as well have "To Be Continued" on the final page.

THE BORROWED WORLD

Author: Franklin Horton

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Kevin Pierce

Length: 7 hours and 55 minutes

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Release Date: July 2, 2015

Publisher: Franklin Horton

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

* I received a free copy of this audiobook through Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review.

ISIS is a terrorist organization that everyone has heard of. A group that only a year ago no regular US or Canadian citizen had ever heard of, is now extremely well known and much discussed.

Jim travels the five hour distance to Richmond, Virginia on a semi-regular basis for work. He hates it, but has no choice.

He is what is known as a Prepper. He is always ready for any emergency scenario and even travels with a "Get Home Bag."

When small groups of terrorists simultaneously hit large numbers of key infrastructure targets all over the United States, they set in motion a devastating effect on the United States. They hit oil refineries and hydro stations - leaving 65% of the USA without power and without the means to create and distribute the fuel that is such an integral part of American life.

Stranded in Richmond, 500 miles from his wife and children, Jim is determined to get home to them.

At home his wife Ellen and Jim's two children face a different set of challenges. Thankfully, Jim has written a manual to help assist and prepare Ellen in case of emergency.

With the power out and food and gas supplies quickly dwindling, it does not take long for the more primitive (and violent) side of human nature to start rearing it's ugly head.

This audiobook is an excellent listening experience. Kevin Pierce, does a spectacular job as the narrator. He emotes very well and his sense of timing and pacing is perfect and keeps the listener enthralled. I especially liked the fact that he did not "overact" during dramatic scenes. Instead, he infuses his voice with just the right amount of urgency and inflection to pull the listener into the story.

I read and listen to a lot of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction because the genre fascinates me. I love the fact that Franklin Horton has added a Prepper twist to his book. It is a nice change from the typical book in which the characters are caught completely unaware and much of the book is spent in disbelief.

In this audiobook, the main character, Jim clues in very quickly to what is happening and the listener does not have to endure chapter upon chapter of disbelief. It is a refreshing change.

Franklin Horton has also done an incredibly believable (and I believe - accurate) description of how people react when faced with a major catastrophe. He takes into account that not everyone will act in the same way when faced with the same circumstances. The scene at the Interstate Rest Stop is particularly well written. He has a great sense of timing and every single event in this book comes across as believable. This is what makes THE BORROWED WORLD such a compelling audiobook. The print version of this book is also available, but I highly recommend listening to the audiobook instead. As I mentioned above, the narration by Kevin Pierce is excellent. In fact, I give the narration 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My biggest complaint about this audiobook is that it ended with a cliffhanger. I did not want to stop listening. I need to know what happens next with Jim and his companions. And, what about Ellen and the kids? I need to listen to the next audiobook in the series asap. I will be eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in this series.

Overall I have to rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved it! Give this audiobook a chance and I think you will love it too.

I was able to be part of one of this gentleman's workshops at a recent conference.. and then got to buy the first three books of this series at another. He is a down to earth, friendly and wise man. The books can be shocking and disturbing ~ but I read this one in 4 hours :)

This is your 2-in-1 kind of book including a tutorial about what to do in an apocalypse like situation and also a nice story neatly encapsulating that tutorial part of the book. For anyone looking for what happened to lead to an end of the world kind of situation, this isn’t good for you, it’s rather about what all you should expect or may be hints to avoid dying in such a scene.

Jim is one of those guys who is paranoid about “anything might happen” and has always a backup plan ready. His paranoia is what helps him and his family to get through these appalling circumstances. To justify Jim’s character about being paranoid but smart, he has actually prepared a training journal for his wife mentioning all “what to if this happens” type solutions.

The story is interleaves between Jim’s journey from a business trip to home and his wife trying protect herself and her two kids from the predators. The writing style is pretty seamless and the flow of the story continues not confusing you about the two accounts running parallel.

The narration by Kevin Pierce was quite extraordinary even though the narrator never used a female voice for the female characters, yet the idea was clear and crisp. The production had some minor issues, there was a scratchy sound sometimes but you’d only notice it if you were listening to it in a very quiet surrounding with no single external voice around.

This book is short enough to finish it quickly and has all the elements of suspense, thrill and drama. It’s gets adventurous and exciting right from the beginning, directly cut to the chase and getting it right till the very end. The end, however, makes sure that you would want to keep going to the second book.

Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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I listened to several survivalist audiobooks and none were all that good. Once I found this one I was hooked. The descriptions of the weapons and the deceptions of what would happen during a SHTF situation are very realistic. The protagonist is likable and the action is intense. I am on book 4 now. I cannot wait to find out what happens.

The book is written very well, and moves reasonably quickly. But it's clear there will be quite a few books in this series, as the protagonist is 200 miles from home, and has made it only perhaps 20 miles so far. I really loved the idea of how he is going to make his way home. The "freeway for the great unwashed and overburdened", heh! The first lesson of the book is that America needs big government: without government to keep people at bay, they start killing one another. The second lesson is that guns make you think you can shoot yourselves out of any situation. You can't get enough guns and ammo, as there are so many people to kill before you can make it home.

Or perhaps the real lesson is not to bring any guns, as it seems our protagonist is thinking with his gun instead of his head. *** SPOILERS *** Really, what was he thinking setting up what appears a trap in the woods, and then going to sleep??? If you pitch your tent in a place where you think unsavoury characters may see it, you should have lain in wait, and got them. I'm sure that without his gun he would have retreated in the woods, the bad guys would have driven past him (at night with an ATV on the AT, really???), and everybody would be alive, and another day closer to home. Now his friend is dead, the 2 people who cast their lot with him are dead, lots of bad guys are dead, the bad guys families are lusting for revenge, he is severely wounded, so what exactly did he achieve?

First of all, kudos to Horton for a well written, well edited book. That is sometimes hard to find in e-books, and it is always a joy simply to read something I don't have to plow through typos, grammar, etc,... because I won't do it. Horton does write a book exciting enough to keep a reader turning the pages and wanting to know what happens, and I'm downloading the second book as I type this.

However....

My main quibble with prepper books is the preaching. And this one is no exception. Every prepper book I have read is an example of the author (through the characters) bragging about everything s\he knows about (fill in the blank type of end of the world) and how to face it. This book even has written instructions for the wife, because apparently she doesn't have enough intelligence to learn about this during all the years she has been married to the main character (more about the main character's assessment of women later).

And always, the main character is rich enough for all the fancy toys and stockpiling and building and amassing and this one even has a cave fortress.

And he also has a very poor opinion of women. His first thoughts about any women other than his wife are towards the women who are to be in the business meeting that is schedualed the morning of the End Of The World. He decides the meeting would be cancelled if only because the women wouldn't show up if they couldn't shower or fix their hair. And his opinions do not get any better from there.

The only other people in this world appear to be red-neck criminal hicks. Or helpless people to be killed off. Which is rather rediculous, considering there are a lot more people in the world than that out there.

This is what I mean about the weary plot. I had hopes for this, seeing as other reviewers were saying that this wasn't a prepper novel, but it really is. It follows that format. But... it would be really nice if there were twists to the format. The main character not being rich enough for the fancy toys, perhaps. Not being a complete jerk, regardless of his need to go home. Not preaching to every person how they had to
"harden up". It would have been a refreshing change and I would have loved to give it more stars. I gave it three stars for the solid writing. But... the author could have done so much more to make this stand apart from all the other prepper fiction rather than follow in the footsteps of other writers. Hopefully he has done that in the next books, and I can give more stars on those.

Want a story that is all too likely to occur? Want an example of how different types of people react and deal with it? If so, then I really recommend this book and the whole series. It might open some eyes.

I have been reading this series the entire weekend and I don't want to put it done. It takes a lot to capture my interest and Mr. Horton has done just done that. The books are well written and will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Save your time. I really wanted to like this book but I couldn't even finish it. Every character is plastic. The bad guys are all trailer trash or gangsters. The protagonist is so full of himself he writes survival manuals for his wife in a tone that implies she's either 8 years old or dim witted. The wife and kids without dad around are so Father Knows Best everything is because dad or mom said so we just follow along like the Cleavers.

Like I said couldn't finish. Do yourself a favor and read the negative reviews.

First, I enjoyed the book very much. I would recommend it for anyone interested in SHTF books. The main protagonist is not very likable character. Actually, he is a bit of a jerk. But, since the varied antagonists are downright evil, his ends justifies the means attitude keep the readers rooting for his success.

Better than Rawles; and he's my favorite. Best Collapse fiction I've read to date. I already ordered "the red box". Unbelievably gripping for a 1st time author with the most realistic collapse cause so far. My only disappointments are (once again) the main character is stranded away from home & it will have a sequel. READ IT $2.99 on Kindle. No matter what my review may imply, this IS the best book of fiction with the most useful info on prepping without reading a Boy Scout type manual, even if you just read book one. I'll probably read the sequel, just because it was so darn good. But maybe not, if only to discourage other budding Collapse writers from continuing this sequel trend. Prepping is not a soap opera. But at least (so far) he hasn't delved into the ridiculous rebuilding America BS most authors think we want to read. The ISIS attack on our grid is likely the most plausible scenario to cause a sudden collapse, although the economy will do it on its own eventually. Kudos to the author. Now don't go Peyton Place on us.

It was good, I love these kind of books. I gave it three stars because it didn't have much of a, if any, conclusion. It seems like you get a quarter of the book and then have to buy three more just to get to the end. Anything to make money these days. I'm absolutely not impressed by that.

I have read several very good books of this sort and this is a good one. I hope the conclusion book has better editing. I don't go in for a lot of graphic violence or foul language. By its nature this book had to have some violence but the author handled it well without undue description. Besides being a good "story" there is a lot of food for thought - some really good ideas. I am looking forward to book two!

Post apoc is my favorite genre. I love all kinds from zombie, to plague, to natural disaster. The more believable the better. This one was very believable and I enjoyed the entire book. And now I get to buy the rest in the series and binge read them! Great book and I highly recommend it.

If you're a misogynistic prepper who's a fan of lovingly detailed descriptions of guns and doesn't expect well-crafted writing, compelling characters or interesting story lines in a book -- well, this one's for you. Wish I could get my $2.99 back.

One man's family surviving the end of the world. Jim, the husband, was on the other side of the state when the attacks occur. Ellen, his wife was at home with the two kids. His part of the book is about his journey along The Appalachian Trail and her part is ensuring the survival of the children and their home.

This was a well written page turner. The character development was excellent and I found myself really rooting for the family and despising the villains. Even though it's nothing like Alas Babylon, it was in the same vein.

I'm not sure if this is going to be a series but there will be, at least, one more book. Mr. Horton is a very good writer and one to watch. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Well written. It is a good series, I am now on the fourth book. It starts slowly building characters, but it is a realistic progression from adherence to the rule of law and the brutal reality of the nature of man.

I wish I had read the negative reviews on the store before I bought this book, but I didn't. If I had, I probably would have skipped this one. To be fair to the author, I am wondering if this novel was less a story of a terrorist attack on our infrastructure, and more a how-to guide to get through it. That being said, the characters were interesting at the beginning but, as others have noted in their reviews, by midway through the story they were just stereotypes: the welfare dependent poor, the drunken Hispanics, the tatted gangbangers, the trailer trash and, in what I thought was an obscene addition because I have a Down Syndrome daughter, a genetically disabled manchild.
I would l like to remind the author that very few people beyond the Latter Day Saints have a year's supply of food for their families, or thousands of rounds of ammo for their myriad guns. And a couple hundred dollars a month for food benefits does not allow for a storehouse full of overflow supplies for the just-in-case scenario presented here.
This could have been a much better story with the same characters presented with more depth -- and some development. That being said, I speedread to the end, only to discover that it is "to be continued." Will I give this author more money so he can continue to spout this bull. Hell no!

I was captured by this book from page one. I immediately ordered ALL the books so there was no lag time between them by page 5. Do I highly recommend The Borrowed World and Franklin Horton? HELL YEAH....

Anyone else think, how the hell did Jim afford all the stuff he had at home? Do not remember if his wife worked but he seemed to be able to buy a lot of stuff and still buy a home etc. Seems people over look this type of stuff.

Wow,females, religion, people who have different ideas, poor people, I'm sure that different cultures would also be criticized. The author has a very poor view of anyone who doesn't believe in his way of life. His writing includes so many stereotypes and biases that it was hard not to laugh. In the book woman were either bitches or subservient. I got thru more than half hoping that the main character would be killed but sadly he will live in his world. It is a preppers dream book as long as you subscribe to the belief that you are the top and no one else is as good.

As a fan of post-apocalypse fiction, I looked forward to reading this book. The anticipation was heightened by the review given the book by "Duke" Venturino, a legendary guns and weaponry writer, expert on World War II armaments, and world-class big game hunter. Having grown up in the area where Borrowed World takes place added to my interest.

Horton did not fail to deliver- the story begins rolling almost immediately, and continues with fast-paced action and momentum that builds. The scenario is highly plausible- it's in fact taken from events that have already occurred in the US that are considered to be precursors to this "doomsday" event. The story moves much like a police procedural, with ample descriptions of why decisions are made and what tools and processes are employed.

Are there a few rocky moments? Sure- there are a few holes in character development, and some of the commentary by the protagonist seems a bit dogmatic in delivery (although I share his outlook). But the imagination of the tale and the gripping pace make those minor problems easy to ignore, and the author is really hitting stride as the first installment comes to a close.

I've purchased the next book of the series, Ashes of the Unspeakable. I recommend that fans of genres including action, suspense, "prepper" and post-apocalypse fiction start with Borrowed World and see where it takes them. It might give you some troubling glimpses of a possible reality to consider, but you'll be thoroughly entertained and educated as you read.

This is an obviously well researched story. I like the character development. While the plot is necessarily obvious, there are twists and surprises that make this a good read. I will read the next one.

Great book. Starts slow and the writer tends to get bogged down with LOTS of description. IMHO too much description on the different types of guns. I don't care what kind it is or who made it does it go "boom!" When I pull the trigger??? Also, writer needs to hire an editor. I've certainly read worse books full of typos but they are distracting and takes you out of the story.otherwise loved the story. Likeable characters. I felt like they didn't act shocked enough over the first co-workers death. Even if they didn't like her, the other women should have been more shocked or something. They dismissed it too quickly. These reasons are why it's not 5 stars. Hope to read more by him!

Well-written and terse going through the post world attacks with a limited group of people and experiencing it through their eyes. The author touches on many Prepper/survivalist themes, but keeps the story believable. I will be buying the other books in the series.

The book is well thought out and at first it is an interesting read. However, the view of the main character / author is overwhelming present in all of the dialogue. All the other characters seem to be placed in the story just to allow the main character to show off the knowledge and skills he learned while prepping. It is an interesting read but the characters are not well developed and story line is one sided.

I won't present any spoilers but I mainly gave it two star because the ending is odd. I don't want to explain because I don't want to spoil it for someone that reads it. In addition the story is incomplete and drops off obviously for a 2nd book. If I would have been warned about the ending I would not have spent the time reading it.

This book was super. I literally could NOT put it down, and had to read the whole thing. Then I looked and was glad to see there was a second part; ordered it right away, and hope there will be more. I read all of A American's series, and while I LOVED it, the one thing I did NOT like was that I did NOT like the family of the main character. They were a bunch of entitled princesses, and I just couldn't STAND them! Did not have this problem with The Borrowed World. Found his family to be likeable, and no problem pulling for them. This book was action packed. Really glad I found this one. Will read anything I can find from Franklin Horton!

Interesting trek using the environment of Richmond, the Virginia western interstate system, and the Appalachian Trail with an obsessive prepper and his coworkers struggling to make it home from a business trip after coordinated terrorist attacks take out much important American infrastructure. I enjoyed the locale of western, more rural Virginia---not everything happens in the big city, folks! However, although I have to give the main character five stars for disaster preparedness, he was relentlessly surly, humorless, judgmental and literal-minded. While he'd be great to team up with in reality in order to survive, to follow him alone through a work of fiction would have been an impossible chore, but luckily there are other protagonists fleshed out enough to sustain a reader's interest. Few typos, competent writing, decent pacing. Standard right-wing paranoia scenarios such as FEMA camps included. This summary and review also applies to the sequel. The second begins immediately where the first ends.

Great book. Starts slow and the writer tends to get bogged down with LOTS of description. IMHO too much description on the different types of guns. I don't care what kind it is or who made it does it go "boom!" When I pull the trigger??? Also, writer needs to hire an editor. I've certainly read worse books full of typos but they are distracting and takes you out of the story.otherwise loved the story. Likeable characters. I felt like they didn't act shocked enough over the first co-workers death. Even if they didn't like her, the other women should have been more shocked or something. They dismissed it too quickly. These reasons are why it's not 5 stars. Hope to read more by him!

Well-written and terse going through the post world attacks with a limited group of people and experiencing it through their eyes. The author touches on many Prepper/survivalist themes, but keeps the story believable. I will be buying the other books in the series.

The book is well thought out and at first it is an interesting read. However, the view of the main character / author is overwhelming present in all of the dialogue. All the other characters seem to be placed in the story just to allow the main character to show off the knowledge and skills he learned while prepping. It is an interesting read but the characters are not well developed and story line is one sided.

I won't present any spoilers but I mainly gave it two star because the ending is odd. I don't want to explain because I don't want to spoil it for someone that reads it. In addition the story is incomplete and drops off obviously for a 2nd book. If I would have been warned about the ending I would not have spent the time reading it.

This book was super. I literally could NOT put it down, and had to read the whole thing. Then I looked and was glad to see there was a second part; ordered it right away, and hope there will be more. I read all of A American's series, and while I LOVED it, the one thing I did NOT like was that I did NOT like the family of the main character. They were a bunch of entitled princesses, and I just couldn't STAND them! Did not have this problem with The Borrowed World. Found his family to be likeable, and no problem pulling for them. This book was action packed. Really glad I found this one. Will read anything I can find from Franklin Horton!

Interesting trek using the environment of Richmond, the Virginia western interstate system, and the Appalachian Trail with an obsessive prepper and his coworkers struggling to make it home from a business trip after coordinated terrorist attacks take out much important American infrastructure. I enjoyed the locale of western, more rural Virginia---not everything happens in the big city, folks! However, although I have to give the main character five stars for disaster preparedness, he was relentlessly surly, humorless, judgmental and literal-minded. While he'd be great to team up with in reality in order to survive, to follow him alone through a work of fiction would have been an impossible chore, but luckily there are other protagonists fleshed out enough to sustain a reader's interest. Few typos, competent writing, decent pacing. Standard right-wing paranoia scenarios such as FEMA camps included. This summary and review also applies to the sequel. The second begins immediately where the first ends.

I enjoyed the author's description of the kids reaction. "I hate the apocalypse!" He must have kids of his own. A little excessive on the gun descriptions but I guess that goes with the genre. Overall I liked the book, it kept my interest. I would recommend it to others.

Oh my gosh! Franklin Horton has taken that question, separated his characters, and dropped them into this dawning nightmare scenario. My husband travels for work (like Jim Powell) and I'm home with my two kids (like Ellen Powell). What do you do to get home? What do you do to protect your family? What kind of environment do you live in? Unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat reading this book in ONE sitting. Only start this book on a weekend or when you have time off because it will grab you and not let go! Incredible writing, exciting story, and terrifying scenarios, this book delivers! Wow!...

Very interesting, entertaining story. While it is fiction the storyline affirms what could really happen to communities and people as a result of such an attack. The story made the possibility of everything that happened within it very understandable as to how things could happen and what the outcome could be among people who become desperate.

A good post shtf road trip novel. Character development is good and side stories well crafted. Tips on products, organization, and techniques woven in without being overly obvious or a lecture.
Action and encounters are enjoyable. There is a lot of predictable stuff within this genre but the author manages to keep it fresh and entertaining . Nice use of thee AT as a means of travel.

Mr. Horton displays an impressively smooth style for writing in this book. His style develops each scene with the feeling of a swift and dramatic stroke, yet, as a reader, you never feel rushed to hurry on. Like in a great meal - each course is designed to be enjoyed separately and, when done so, the meal as a whole becomes immensely satisfying. The characters are great. They're regular people with regular jobs and regular lives facing extraordinary circumstances. The book is not only believable, it is also practical as well! It is impossible to read this book and not consider how these sorts of events would be handled in real life. No matter how close you are to, or how far removed you are from a metropolis, our families' personal safety is always at risk. Mr. Horton tells a dramatic story that is loaded with human emotion, but grounded to the reality that keeps you wanting to know more. You know an author has done an excellent job when you feel you have connected with the book on a personal level and even re-evaluated your own preparedness level in case such a catastrophe occurs. Excellent, thought-provoking read. Thank you!

This was the best 'new author' book that I've read in a long time. Well paced, logical story-line progression, good character building ... basically a well-written book. The story is interesting and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

This was an excellent read but the author left us hanging with no mention of another book. I'm still in shock that the book ended about 20 chapters to soon. Please tell me there is a sequel in progress.

Even though the preface clearly states that the purpose of this book is not to educate, boy was I ever. I was fascinated by every detail of the items in the get home bag and the red folder instructions. I love Jim and how well he's prepared his family. It's great to really connect with a character that has family so high on his priorities. I can't wait to read more. This is a great start and I definitely recommend this book.

Every once in a ile I get lucky picking out a book. And this time I got a twofer! Not only is this author a native Virginian, he can tell a heck of a good tale, no doubt. This is hands down an excellent read across the board. If you like the survivalist/prepper genre,this is one of the better stories I have found. And, you might very well find yourself being one in the end!

"Chance favors the prepared mind" Louis Pasteur

Exciting and each page read makes you turn to next page etc just to see what is happening next. Is Jim going to get home, will Ellen keep it together, Will randi and Gary survive, will all the travelers make it home
. The preparations made by Jim are fascinating. Lik this story.

Pretty good writing in the post-apocalyptic genre. It would sure be nice if the author had looked up the difference between a clip and a magazine, however...not knowing this distinction makes him sound amateurish (hint: pistols and Ruger 10-22s do not use clips; M1 Garands do).

Finished Franklin Hortons novel " The Borrowed World" last night & immediately purchased his second book in the series "Ashes of the Unsunspeakable". If you are traveling for the Holidays or are a business traveler you must read this series! Franklin will help you think through what it will take to survive a SHTF event that happens when you are far from your home & family.

This was the best 'new author' book that I've read in a long time. Well paced, logical story-line progression, good character building ... basically a well-written book. The story is interesting and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

This was an excellent read but the author left us hanging with no mention of another book. I'm still in shock that the book ended about 20 chapters to soon. Please tell me there is a sequel in progress.

Even though the preface clearly states that the purpose of this book is not to educate, boy was I ever. I was fascinated by every detail of the items in the get home bag and the red folder instructions. I love Jim and how well he's prepared his family. It's great to really connect with a character that has family so high on his priorities. I can't wait to read more. This is a great start and I definitely recommend this book.

Every once in a ile I get lucky picking out a book. And this time I got a twofer! Not only is this author a native Virginian, he can tell a heck of a good tale, no doubt. This is hands down an excellent read across the board. If you like the survivalist/prepper genre,this is one of the better stories I have found. And, you might very well find yourself being one in the end!

"Chance favors the prepared mind" Louis Pasteur

Exciting and each page read makes you turn to next page etc just to see what is happening next. Is Jim going to get home, will Ellen keep it together, Will randi and Gary survive, will all the travelers make it home
. The preparations made by Jim are fascinating. Lik this story.

Pretty good writing in the post-apocalyptic genre. It would sure be nice if the author had looked up the difference between a clip and a magazine, however...not knowing this distinction makes him sound amateurish (hint: pistols and Ruger 10-22s do not use clips; M1 Garands do).

Finished Franklin Hortons novel " The Borrowed World" last night & immediately purchased his second book in the series "Ashes of the Unsunspeakable". If you are traveling for the Holidays or are a business traveler you must read this series! Franklin will help you think through what it will take to survive a SHTF event that happens when you are far from your home & family.

I love post apocalyptic books, prepper stories not so much. This one goes into the excruciating details of armaments and equipment that make them so boring, but a little way in, just as I was ready to give up, I realized that the author had me hooked- there was actually a decent story behind all that ammo! Was disappointed by the cliffhanger ending ( I refuse to read serials, they go on way too long usually). The author can do something with a story, and shows promise.

I enjoyed it very much. Although, I could have done without the alt-right agenda wording, it was a great story with realistic scenarios and useful information. Im now working on the second book in this series.

excellent SHTF book, fiction yes but this could all really happen as the author describes it. no zombies needed, real people are scary enough when they get hungry or out of psyche meds. I can't wait to read the follow up on this.

I thought books one and two were both great, other than the fact that my copy was not edited well and I noticed dozens of mistakes throughout my reading with words missing and such. Otherwise, really great story and it had me wrapped up in it from the first few chapters. When the first book ended it seemed like a bit of a cliffhanger, and then I realized there was a second book, which I was glad was already available so I could dive right into it.

Excellent book on how this country could collapse into chaos overnight. Preparation must be a major requirement in today's world. The Borrowed World not only is a great read but gives many, many tips on preparing for a collapse of civilization as we know it! Highly recommend!!!

The author did a great job of realistically describing the area in which the story is set and the reactions people are likely to have. Story is well thought-out and core characters are well developed. All this makes for a great read; any fan of this genre should thoroughly enjoy this book.

To the author, my sole request is more, please!

Quite possibly the most realistic, believable, and scary ideas about how it can all come crumbling down I've read yet. A I read nearly everything in this genre. I only hope it doesn't give any wack jobs ideas. Very intense and well developed. Excellent stuff here. Buy it!

Then you will rush (like I did) to get the 2nd book. Very interesting plot, not like the normal "SHTF" novels. We written with essy to follow likeable characters. Reading this one will make those of you who travel for work look at things differently. I started reading this one day before the Paris terrorist attacks and that made it even more believable and frightening.

I thought books one and two were both great, other than the fact that my copy was not edited well and I noticed dozens of mistakes throughout my reading with words missing and such. Otherwise, really great story and it had me wrapped up in it from the first few chapters. When the first book ended it seemed like a bit of a cliffhanger, and then I realized there was a second book, which I was glad was already available so I could dive right into it.

Excellent book on how this country could collapse into chaos overnight. Preparation must be a major requirement in today's world. The Borrowed World not only is a great read but gives many, many tips on preparing for a collapse of civilization as we know it! Highly recommend!!!

The author did a great job of realistically describing the area in which the story is set and the reactions people are likely to have. Story is well thought-out and core characters are well developed. All this makes for a great read; any fan of this genre should thoroughly enjoy this book.

To the author, my sole request is more, please!

Quite possibly the most realistic, believable, and scary ideas about how it can all come crumbling down I've read yet. A I read nearly everything in this genre. I only hope it doesn't give any wack jobs ideas. Very intense and well developed. Excellent stuff here. Buy it!

Then you will rush (like I did) to get the 2nd book. Very interesting plot, not like the normal "SHTF" novels. We written with essy to follow likeable characters. Reading this one will make those of you who travel for work look at things differently. I started reading this one day before the Paris terrorist attacks and that made it even more believable and frightening.

Off on a business trip and the SHTF .. what would you do to get home to your family. That is basically what the book is about. Very interesting read and take on what the main characters do to get home. A very good read and really enjoyed the book!

I really enjoyed this book. If you liked Patriots, (and you are a freethinker) you will most certainly enjoy this book. Very well researched, well written, factual... The author covered all of the bases. Will buy the next book he writes without a doubt.

I highly recommend this book -- it is a great story if you like post-apocalyptic novels! Very fast paced, starts off right from the beginning, I like that it brings different characters from various viewpoints together to see how they react in stressful situations, can't wait for part two to come out this Fall!

I liked the subject matter (preppers and survival after a disaster) but found the characters to be poorly developed. The author seemed to have a lot of fun setting up and shooting down all of his favorite prejudices, from caricatures of weak women, gun-haters spouting silly things that the most liberal people I know wouldn't say, and of course a trailer park full of welfare junkies.
It's also a fairly short book that tries to end on a cliffhanger, for what it's worth.

I finally found time where I could stay up really later to read these books. I'm the type of reader who can't put a good book down until I have finished. It's a good thing I had the time because finishing the first demanded that I start the second the same night. The end result? Two consecutive nights reading until 2 or 3 in the morning with eyes blurry just to see what happened next. So two books consumed in two days - waiting now for #3. Thanks for the great reading and "food for thought."

I love the post-apocalyptic themed books, and I have to say that this has been one of my favorites. The thought of being caught so far away from home when something happens is scary, and this story brings together some situations I hadn't thought about. All in all - read the book - you'll enjoy it!

Amazing book! This is extremely well written, in a genre that frequently is not. I loved the storyline, character development, and detail. By far, the best post-apocalyptic and/or prepper fiction I have read in a long, long time. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the second!

Enjoyable. Well written book about a possible situation. Our civilization is so fragile that it could fail in many different circumstances. The author did a good job of developing a realistic scenario.

Very informative while at the same time entertaining. Hope to find other books by this author. Seriously four more words??? Come on the store, I want to write what i want to write no more. There should not be a minimum on what is in a review.